Viral pneumonia cluster in Wuhan, central China: 44 cases and counting

Welcome to 2020 in which we already have reports of our first cluster of viral-pneumonia-of-unknown-cause cases, generating worldwide media and evoking memories of the sudden acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus Read More ...

Some human-to-human transmission isn't surprising in Wuhan

A couple of people have asked me lately if they should be worried about the novel Wuhan coronavirus. Which got me to thinking. Much of what we sciencey types chat Read More ...

China +2

Two countries, in addition to China, have now had visits from the novel Wuhan coronavirus, detected in travellers with respiratory symptoms. Thailand and Japan have each reported a case and Read More ...

Wuhan remains the source, for now

Posted onJanuary 21, 2020January 21, 2020Leave a comment

Cases of the novel Wuhan coronavirus remain anchored in contact with the city of Wuhan in Hubei province. When that changes and we see human-to-human (h2h) spread occur outside of Read More …

Novel Wuhan coronavirus cases leap up

Posted onJanuary 20, 2020January 21, 20202 Comments

Confirmed cases of the novel Wuhan coronavirus have gone from 62 detected in Wuhan (and 3 exports that we knew of then) to over 200 after a jump of 136 Read More …

China +2

Posted onJanuary 16, 2020January 21, 2020Leave a comment

Some human-to-human transmission isn't surprising in Wuhan

Posted onJanuary 16, 2020January 16, 2020Leave a comment

A couple of people have asked me lately if they should be worried about the novel Wuhan coronavirus. Which got me to thinking. Much of what we sciencey types chat Read More …

Viral pneumonia cluster in Wuhan, central China: 44 cases and counting

Posted onJanuary 3, 2020January 4, 20204 Comments

There are plenty of placebo-controlled vaccine trials

Posted onDecember 31, 2019December 31, 20191 Comment

The agglomeration of anti-vaxxers love to plague us with their pro-disease perfidy. They really enjoy wheeling out the lie that vaccines have never been tested with a placebo. Turns out, Read More …

Measles in Samoa – a couple of referenced facts

Posted onDecember 30, 2019December 30, 2019Leave a comment

Measles has killed 81 people in Samoa so far, mostly children. Meanwhile, like a pack of hyenas laughing maniacally off stage, the anti-vaccination cult is drooling over the harm and Read More …

Measles has peaked in Samoa…

Posted onDecember 11, 2019December 27, 20191 Comment

In one of the most satisfying graphs I’ve ever made, this plot of weekly measles cases – both suspected and confirmed (the minority) – shows that the epidemic of measles Read More …

Anti-vaxxers hate your children

Posted onNovember 27, 2019December 1, 20199 Comments

What is happening in Samoa is exactly what science and history tell us to expect when the measles virus is introduced into a population with low immunity. Sick, hospitalised, immune-damaged Read More …

An early look at influenza in the US highlights that the south does not predict the north

Posted onNovember 24, 2019November 24, 20191 Comment

Influenza (flu) hit Australia earlier in 2019 than it had for many years. It reached a very high peak of cases and the flu season lasted for longer than usual. Read More …

Virology Down Under

Facts, data, info, expert opinion and a reasonable, occasionally grumpy, voice on viruses: what they are, how they tick and the illnesses they may cause.

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Viral pneumonia cluster in Wuhan, central China: 44 cases and counting

Some human-to-human transmission isn't surprising in Wuhan

China +2

Wuhan remains the source, for now

Novel Wuhan coronavirus cases leap up

China +2

Some human-to-human transmission isn't surprising in Wuhan

Viral pneumonia cluster in Wuhan, central China: 44 cases and counting

There are plenty of placebo-controlled vaccine trials

Measles in Samoa – a couple of referenced facts

Measles has peaked in Samoa…

Anti-vaxxers hate your children

An early look at influenza in the US highlights that the south does not predict the north